- Prime Video has commissioned its first Nigerian Originals.
- A film, the Gangs of Lagos, will be released later this year, and the series LOL: Last One Laughing Naija is scheduled for next year.
- "The news signals our continued commitment to the Nigerian TV and film industry," said Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, now the head of Nigerian Originals at Amazon Prime Video.
Prime Video on Friday announced that the global streaming service has commissioned its first Nigerian Originals.
The film Gangs of Lagos will be released on the streaming service later this year, and the series LOL: Last One Laughing Naija is scheduled to be released in 2023.
Gangs of Lagos is described as a "high-stakes, gritty, and hard-hitting action crime-thriller, with an authentic storyline centred on a group of friends who each have to navigate destiny, growing up on the bustling streets and neighbourhood of Isale Eko, Lagos".
The streamer says the film will "feature elaborate set pieces, action scenes, and engaging dialogue, balanced out by its high-octane pace and an emotionally grounded story at its core".
The film stars Tobi Bakre, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, and Chiké and is directed and produced by Jade Osiberu, produced by Kemi Lala Akindoju and co-produced by Akin Omotoso.
LOL: Last One Laughing Naija is an unscripted series where a group of comedians compete to be the "last one laughing".
The show is presented by Nigerian comedian Basketmouth, who will pit 10 famous Nigerian comedians against one another to see who will ultimately win by trying to make their opponents laugh and lose. LOL: Last One Laughing Naija is filmed and produced in Nigeria and produced by Livespot360. It follows the success of the Amazon Prime Video global format already launched in Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, India, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain and will launch in 2023.
The unscripted series will showcase authentic Nigerian comedy from top Nigerian comedic talent and will launch next year on Prime Video worldwide.
Both local productions build on recent film deals made by Prime Video, including an exclusive commissioning slate deal with Nemsia Films for three feature films, beginning with Breath of Life, launching next year.
Other exclusive licencing agreements include deals with Nigerian production studios Inkblot Studios and Anthill Studios, bringing Prime Video customers exclusive access to their movies after theatrical release, such as King of Thieves, Superstar, Progressive Tailors Club, Bad Comments, and Badamasi, which are currently available to watch.
"We're delighted to be increasing our investment in Prime Video for customers in Nigeria, making it a truly localised experience," says Josh McIvor, director of international expansion at Prime Video. "From local payment and a full-scale local marketing campaign to more local content specifically for Nigerian customers, our investment in Nigeria is a significant step towards our broader expansion plans in Africa and our ambition to be the most local of global streaming services."
Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, now the head of Nigerian Originals at Prime Video, says:
"The news signals our continued commitment to the Nigerian TV and film industry, bringing the very best of authentic, homegrown stories to not only our customers in Nigeria, but also
Prime Video members around the world."
